My story
Thirty one years ago, smack dab in between Christmas and New Years, I was born. December 29th was officially my day. I'm the oldest of 5 siblings, two brothers and two sisters.
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I'm a right-brained, left handed, creative, messy, slightly organized, wife and mom. Photography has always been a passion of mine, along with drawing and writing, as far back as I can remember. I love capturing moments and details because life is so fleeting. I loved sharing my photos with my friends at school and my family. Photos covered my bedroom walls. Albums lined my book case. My dad always had a camera or video camera in hand. I loved going through family albums my mom kept safely stored in a living room cabinet. My step dad also had an interest in photography as well and I always loved looking at photos he'd take.
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My amateur photography opened the door for scrapbooking while I was in high school. I would photograph and scrapbook pictures of my beagle Chloe like she was my child. I'm sure all my fur baby moms will understand. It quickly became an obsession. I landed a job at Hobby Lobby in 2006, was over the scrapbooking department (can you say heaven?) and became assistant manager just months later.
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I married my high school sweetheart, Scott Heikell and we welcomed Layla Kate in 2007. During my pregnancy I became so sick and unable to function that I lost my job. I spent my days at home preparing for baby and documenting our lives through photos and scrapbooks. After she was born I took the plunge into the DSLR world. Upgrading from my Canon Powershot to a Canon Rebel. I was HOOKED.
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I started "Layla Kate Photography" in February 2008 and it took off. Friends, family, acquaintances and friends of people I knew were calling me to take their pictures. I always had work and I enjoyed what I was doing. My greatest subject however, was my own family.
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Three years later we welcomed Cora Leigh in 2011. I had so much fun documenting my pregnancy and her as a newborn. Life with two kids was a huge adjustment but a rewarding one.
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For a short period of time I worked for a photographer in a studio. I shot weddings and portraits, learned how to edit better and most importantly I learned I no longer wanted to shoot weddings alone like I had done all these years before! Having a second shooter was so much better than trying to get every shot on my own.
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In 2012 I changed my business name from "Layla Kate Photography" to "Courtney Heikell Photography". The following year I would begin to realize just how important photos were.
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July 5th, 2013 my world turned upside down. Tragedy had settled into my life and begun it's own chapter. My husband Scott, my best friend, the father of my two precious girls ages 5 and 2, passed away suddenly. My world turned dark and unfamiliar. I clung to all the photos I had of him and I clung to Jesus, but barely. Losing him opened my eyes and gave me a desire to truly get to know God. I had so many questions. I found myself looking for a church to call home. I have so many people in my life now who continue to help me grow spiritually and I am thankful for their role in my walk with Jesus.
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I documented my grief through photos and writing. My brother in law surprised me with an early birthday present, a Canon EOS 70D, 3 months in to my new life as a widow. Capturing the lives of my girls made me happy. I used it to document everything from Disney trips and beach trips to school parties and messy dinner faces. Even visits to talk to daddy.
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4 months after losing my husband Scott, I met Michael. I had no room in my heart for Michael. My girls and I were still in the early stages of grief. No one deserved my mess. I had nothing to give. Grief consumed me, but Michael pursued me. He asked me to lunch the morning after we met. I prayed for God to give me peace if Michael was who I was meant to be with. I didn't want to let him slip out of my life if he was truly supposed to be there. God gave me that peace and I felt lead to accept his lunch request. The rest is a beautiful picture of grace, patience and redeeming love. I give God all the glory for our love story.
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We welcomed Ella Rose on New Year's Eve 2014. She is full of personality, spunk and sassiness! She is 2 going on 20 and she truly believes she is the boss. She is the beauty from my ashes and I'd do it all over again for her.
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During the time I lost Scott up to November 2015 I focused on Jesus, healing and enjoying life with my family, putting photography for others on the back burner completely with a few exceptions. Michael encouraged me to get back to doing what I loved but it didn't feel right until I took my baby brother's Homecoming photos. I realized how much I missed it, prayed about starting up my business again and the rest is history. Business was booming as soon as I announced it. Sessions, weddings, events, you name it. My clients have been so welcoming and supportive and happy to see me back at work. I love being behind the camera capturing life for other families one chapter at a time. I love capturing moments as if they were my own and seeing the smiles the photos bring to the faces of so many.
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Thank you for taking time to get to know my story. I look forward to becoming a small part of your family in a big way and recording your life to look back on for generations to come.
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